KOTA KINABALU – Sabahans were left confused by Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s announcement yesterday on the new cooking oil ceiling price for the peninsula and a Facebook post by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
While Annuar, who is the Jihad Against Inflation Task Force chairman, said the ceiling price of RM34.70 for 5kg bottles is for Peninsular Malaysia, the Facebook post announced that the directive is applicable to the entire country.
“Minyak masak sawit dalam botol lima kilogram (5kg) akan dijual pada harga RM34.70 bulan ini bermula dari 8 Ogos” - Pengerusi Pasukan Khas Jihad Tangani Inflasi Tan Sri Annuar Musa. #KPDNHEP #KamiBertindak
Posted by KPDNHEP Laman Rasmi on Monday, August 1, 2022
Sources told The Vibes that the Sabah Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs officers were taken by surprise after yesterday’s announcement and are currently confirming if the state is affected.
“The officers are currently checking with our headquarters whether there will be a price difference. They thought the new price was set for the whole country.”
Unhappy with the confusion, Warisan assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong said while the ceiling price for 5kg bottled cooking oil is good news, the price difference for East Malaysia should not happen.
“As per the announcement, the 5kg cooking oil ceiling price will be set at RM34.70 in West Malaysia from Monday onwards.
“Does this imply that the people in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as Labuan will continue to pay for the higher price?”
He said cooking oil brands Seri Murni, Buruh, Alif, Vesawit and Saji were sold between RM45 and RM50 in Kota Kinabalu, taking into account the logistic costs of the products being bottled in the peninsula.
“East Malaysians do not deserve to suffer from the price differences, and they should also enjoy the same privilege as their West Malaysian counterparts,” said Wong, adding that Annuar should also look into the higher prices of eggs and chicken in East Malaysia.
The ceiling price of 1kg chicken is RM9.40 whereas chicken eggs of grade A, B, and C are set at 45 sen, 43 sen and 41 sen in the peninsula respectively.
As for Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, the ceiling prices of chicken are between RM11-RM11.30, RM9.80 and RM12.90 respectively, said Wong.
For eggs, the prices sold in Sabah for Grade A, B and C are 51 sen, 50 sen and 49 sen respectively and are around the same prices in Labuan.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, meanwhile, said the state does not have any shortage of chicken and eggs.
Only 20% of the chicken supply in the state is imported and chicken parts like the wings are exported to Brunei and Singapore, he added. – The Vibes, August 2, 2022
